County National Drought Management Authority coordinator Gabriel Mbogho during a past media briefing. [Photo/ westfm.co.ke]
Over 16,000 poor families in West Pokot will receive beginning May a monthly stipend of Sh3,000 as the county government moves to cushion residents from the effects of drought.Speaking during a drought assessment meeting in Kapenguria, the County National Drought Management Authority coordinator Gabriel Mbogho said the money will help recipients buy basic items like food.The programme jointly run with the World Food Programme is set to kick off registering prospective beneficiaries at the beginning of May.The cash will be sent to recipients via card dabbed ‘Okoa Uhai’ for the first time before being introduced to Safaricom’s M-Pesa in the subsequent months.Beneficiaries will be required to present their ID cards, registered Safaricom line, a phone and a working network for them to receive the Sh3,000.Those without phones will directly receive food items equivalent to the money.The Red Cross Society is already sending money to people most affected by drought in Turkwel. The programme targets 1,200 vulnerable families.Mbogho asked farmers to take advantage of the rains to plant food crops.“We encourage farmers to plant crops which can grow quickly and those in dry areas should grow drought resistant crops,” he said.